The easiest way for an international student to rent a room in Warsaw is to start with three things: an agreement you understand (ideally in English), health insurance and residence registration. In the 2024/25 academic year 108.6 thousand foreigners studied in Poland, and almost a third of them chose universities in the Masovian Voivodeship [1].
This guide takes you through the whole process: from choosing a room, through the agreement and the deposit, to the formalities after arrival. We describe the rules in simplified form; check your specific legal situation, including legalisation of stay, with the office or on your university’s website.
Key takeaways
- In the 2024/25 academic year 108.6 thousand foreigners from 179 countries studied in Poland, and the largest groups were from Ukraine, Belarus and Turkey [1][2].
- A stay longer than 3 months means registering a temporary residence, no later than on the 4th day after you start living here, in person at the municipal office [3].
- A student from outside the EU usually needs private insurance or a voluntary agreement with the NFZ (National Health Fund); a student from the EU/EEA needs a valid EHIC card [4][5].
- A deposit may not exceed twelve times the monthly rent and must be returned within a month of vacating the premises [6].
How many international students study in Poland and where do they come from?
In the 2024/25 academic year 108.6 thousand foreigners studied at Polish universities, 1.4% more than a year earlier [1]. The universities ran 908 programmes in English, and the students came from 179 countries [2].
The largest national groups
The largest group are students from Ukraine (47.5 thousand), followed by Belarus (12.2 thousand) and Turkey (5.2 thousand) [1].
The number of new international students is falling in subsequent years: 38.4 thousand in 2022/23, 36.3 thousand in 2023/24 and 32.4 thousand in 2024/25 [2].
Why Warsaw
Almost a third of foreigners, that is 32.3 thousand people, chose universities in the Masovian Voivodeship [1]. For people looking for a room it is therefore worth starting early, before the season ahead of October begins.
What kind of room should an international student look for?
Look for a room with an agreement you understand, clear costs and an address close to your university or good transport. For a person arriving from abroad two things matter: whether the agreement is available in English and whether you can sign it before you arrive.
An English agreement and remote signing
At Nearby Campus the rental agreement is available in Polish and English and signed remotely, so you can handle all the formalities before you arrive in Warsaw. We are an operator, not an agent, and we do not charge a commission. We describe the reservation steps in the article student room reservation step by step.
A furnished room and internet included in the rent
The rooms in the Nearby offer are furnished, the flats have an equipped kitchen, and 300 Mb/s internet is included in the rent. For someone arriving with one suitcase this is a real time saver: you do not have to buy furniture or arrange an internet provider. Check the scope of equipment in the description of the specific listing.
Nearby Campus expert tip: As an operator, we advise international students to ask for written confirmation of three things before paying the deposit: what the rent covers, how long the agreement runs and how the deposit is returned. A message in English is enough; what matters is that it is at hand when someone asks about the arrangements.
How do you choose a district and a university in Warsaw?
Choose the university first, and only then the district and the specific address. Commute time matters more than distance in kilometres, and Warsaw’s public transport lets you reach most campuses from several districts.
Rooms near universities
Start with the list of rooms for students near universities in Warsaw, from which you can go to the page of a specific university, e.g. rooms for students of the University of Warsaw or Warsaw University of Technology.
Rooms by district
If the area matters more to you, compare rooms for rent in Warsaw by district. You can check the commute time from a specific address on the map next to the listing; we described the assessment methods in the article how to assess the commute from a room to university.
What formalities do you need to handle after arrival?
After arrival the most important things are registering a temporary residence and health insurance. The rules on legalising your stay depend on your country of origin and the basis of your stay, so check them at the voivodeship office or at the international students’ office of your university.
Registering a temporary residence
A foreigner from outside the EU and EFTA who lives at one address for longer than 3 months should register a temporary residence no later than on the 4th day after starting to live in Poland [3]. Registration is done in person at the municipal office; it cannot be done online [3].
You need the form, a valid travel document, a visa or another residence document, and a document confirming your right to the premises, e.g. a rental agreement [3]. Registration is free, and a certificate costs PLN 17 [3].
Health insurance
The rules depend on where you come from.
| A student from | Usually needed |
|---|---|
| EU/EEA | valid insurance in the country of origin and an EHIC card, as well as a passport and student ID [5] |
| a country outside the EU/EEA | private insurance taken out before arrival or a voluntary agreement with an NFZ branch [4][5] |
| outside the EU with a Karta Polaka or a certificate of Polish origin | registration through the university [4] |
Source: [4], [5]
You take out voluntary NFZ insurance at the voivodeship branch appropriate for your place of residence and pay the monthly contribution yourself [4]. The documents are a passport with a document of legal stay and a student card or certificate from the university [4]. For students from outside the EU the contribution is a dozen or so euros a month [5]; check the current amount with the NFZ before signing the agreement.
Deposit, fees and tenant rights: what is worth knowing?
A deposit may not exceed twelve times the monthly rent and must be returned within a month of vacating the premises, after the landlord’s claims are deducted [6]. On return the amount is indexed and cannot be lower than the deposit collected [6].
What to require from the landlord
Ask for written information on what the rent covers, how additional fees are calculated and on what terms the deposit is returned. The articles on rent, utilities and bills and the security deposit for a room suggest which questions to ask.
Returning the room at the end of the tenancy
After the tenancy ends you return the room undeteriorated; you are not liable for wear resulting from proper use [7]. That is why on move-in day you should take photos and record the condition of the room together with the landlord. Also read how to rent a room safely and avoid scams, especially if you are looking for a room from far away.
Nearby Campus expert tip: As an operator, we recommend sticking to documents when settling the deposit: the agreement, the protocol and the photos from move-in day. If something is unclear, write in English or Polish to the contact person; a short exchange of messages usually clears things up faster than a dispute.
Summary: a to-do list for an international student
Start by choosing a room and an agreement you understand, then take care of insurance and registration. The deposit, the protocol and the photos protect you when you move out.
If you are looking for a room in Warsaw with an English agreement and remote signing, see the offer of Nearby Campus – rooms for students in Warsaw.
FAQ
Can an international student rent a room in Warsaw before arriving?
Yes, if the landlord offers remote signing of the agreement. At Nearby Campus the agreement is available in Polish and English and signed remotely.
Will I get a rental agreement in English in Warsaw?
With some landlords, yes. Nearby Campus offers agreements in Polish and English. Always check which version is binding and ask for written confirmation of it.
How quickly do I have to register after arrival?
A foreigner from outside the EU and EFTA who stays at one address for more than 3 months should register no later than on the 4th day after starting to live in Poland [3]. Registration is done in person at the municipal office [3].
What documents are needed to register a foreigner?
The notification form, a valid travel document, a visa or another residence document, and a document confirming the right to the premises, e.g. a rental agreement [3]. The owner of the premises also confirms on the form that you live at the given address [3].
Does a student from outside the EU have to have health insurance?
A student from outside the EU/EEA usually uses private insurance taken out before arrival or takes out a voluntary agreement with the NFZ [4][5]. The requirements depend on the basis of your stay, so check them with the office or the university.
How much can a deposit for a room be?
No more than twelve times the monthly rent [6]. It is returned within a month of vacating the premises, after the landlord’s claims are deducted [6].
Where can I look for a room near my university in Warsaw?
Choose your university on the list of rooms near universities and go to its page. You can also compare rooms by district if the area matters more to you.
Does an international student pay a commission for a room?
It depends on the landlord. At Nearby Campus we do not charge a commission, because we are an operator, not an agent.
Sources
- GUS (Statistics Poland) – Szkolnictwo wyższe w roku akademickim 2024/2025 (Higher education in the 2024/2025 academic year), 16 June 2025. https://stat.gov.pl/files/gfx/portalinformacyjny/pl/defaultaktualnosci/5488/8/11/1/szkolnictwo_wyzsze_w_roku_akademickim_2024-2025.pdf
- Perspektywy Education Foundation – International students in Poland 2025 (report summary), January 2026. https://www.perspektywy.pl/aktualno%C5%9Bci/wydarzenia/raport-coraz-mniej-obcokrajowcow-rozpoczyna-studia-w-polsce
- gov.pl – Register your permanent or temporary residence (for foreigners). https://www.gov.pl/gov/zamelduj-sie-na-pobyt-staly-dla-cudzoziemcow (retrieved 2026-10-08)
- Ministry of Health, pacjent.gov.pl – Health insurance for students, 10 October 2025. https://pacjent.gov.pl/ubezpieczenie-zdrowotne-studenta-co-warto-wiedziec
- Study in Poland – Health insurance. https://study.gov.pl/pl/ubezpieczenie-zdrowotne (retrieved 2026-10-08)
- Act of 21 June 2001 on the protection of tenants’ rights, the municipal housing stock and amending the Civil Code – art. 6 (security deposit). https://standardyprawa.pl/akt/148/art/21538 (retrieved 2026-10-08)
- Civil Code – art. 675 (return of the leased item). https://lexlege.pl/kc/art-675/ (retrieved 2026-10-08)
